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65 memories from Toronto Pride 2013

Toronto Pride has come and gone for another year. The 33rd edition was definitely one to remember and we've got some photos that help tell the story. Thanks to the more than 2,800 of you that tagged your Instagram photos with the #PrideTO hashtag, we've selected our favourites from the Pride Toronto 2013 stream into one easy to browse post below. From dogs to flags to Trudeau spotting, here are our highly curated list of memories from the 2013 edition of Toronto Pride.

Discussion

55 Comments

Can someone remind me why public full frontal nudity, which is otherwise illegal, is seemingly OK at Pride? Why is this glossed over? What does this have to do with gay rights? How can anyone pretend this is a "family" event?

I'm not hating, but I'd like someone to explain this...seems like it's just an excuse for some pervs to expose themselves. One can be proud of their sexuality without being lewd.

In Canada, it is illegal to be nude in a public place, or while on private property but exposed to public view.

But I'm not so sure I think it's a good use of police time and public funds and the courts to prosecute or even ticket people for public nudity. I mean in the scheme of things, it's not a big deal.

BTW the Pride parade is a celebration of sexuality and community, not sure when people decided it was a family event akin to a day at Disney. It's not so keep yourself and your kids home if you're the easily easily offended provincial sort.

Thanks for deleting my comment. Perhaps i'll just post it again. I've also taken screen grabs of all my images that you used without my permission.

Of course I want them removed promptly!! I cover this event with a real camera for several organizations. My cellphone images are not here for you to grab illegally and use as you like and #PrideTO is not a hashtag that you have any claim to. None of these images belong to you! Try asking for permission next time.

And by the way, it's perfectly possible for you to cover Pride events with 1-2 actual photographers. If you could see my galleries and other pro galleries from Trans March, Dyke March, the Pride parade AND the Village Fair, I'd be hard pressed to call it 'narrow' coverage. You do a great insult to professional photographers and frankly I'm embarrassed to have even my cellphone photos posted here promoting YOUR blog. We bust our asses out there to provide great coverage.

Please promptly remove images by shutterjet and rufusthedoofus, who is my dog by the way, those are both my accounts. I don't approve and neither does my dog.

Is your objection because of nudity in general or nudity at Pride? You seem to be unaware that nudity crops up in places other then Pride.
You should avail yourself of the internet and understand the laws that define nudity and how they are applied.

Blog TO is a syndicated journalistic organization they do not need your permission to use images you PUBLICLY posted on instagram. As a journalistic organization they are required to source all material they borrow to report on, they have done so with the name of the user that posted it IN ADDITION they also linked back to the instagram doing MORE than they are required by law. Learn the laws surrounding photographers and read the terms of service on instagram for what rights you actually have to your photos.

Having grown up looking at washed out family photos from the 60s and seeing lots of oversaturated 70s snaps of my own as well I can only ask amateur photographers to please show the snaps the way Eris intended, as naked as some of the performers in the Pride Parade.

Why argue over this? Does the TD Bank tent really have relevance at the Taste of the Danforth weekend?
Oh and one more thing: I'll bet you no one would bitch about nudity at the Pride parade if all the nudists were top models!

You know I'm right. Do you remember why there is a parade? And don't forget one thing: the best Gay Pride parade will be the one that does NOT take place, because it will no longer be necessary.

If you don't like it don't go. The same as you would not go to a strip club if you didn't want to see naked women. Or not go to the Santa Clause Parade because you hate Santa.
Don't use that argument to hide your homophobia. Those veiled comments are exactly why this event is needed.

please learn the history of the pride parade and its purpose before making your assumptions.

For so long, queer people have been forced into submission from most of society and forced to hide who they are. After the stonewall riots the first pride parades occurred where the gay community got together to announce that they would no longer hide and stay silent to the police brutality and oppression of others.

Being loud, and nude and colourful draws attention, which is the whole purpose of the march - to be seen.

Kind of slimy of you to camp out on the most-likely hashtag for the public to be using for the events, isn't it?
If you had more sense, you'd have chosen a hashtag more unique to blogTO, instead of riding on the wave of tweets and 'grams you'd know would be flooding across the interwebz.
Actually, let me retract that: you knew exactly what you were doing ahead of time, counting on your weak "defense" that "hey! they posted them to OUR pool!"
Your position there holds no legal water, by the way: you have no way of proving that anyone posting anything under the #prideTO hashtag had any awareness of your crass hijacking, nor can you prove they understood the rights they were providing you...
Here's an oldie-but-a-goodie: #fail

I have been to pride many times myself (support gay rights), but i would never bring my kids that are under the age of 14. I don't think it is a place for children that young due to nudity. Maybe be labeled a family event, but not for all family members.

well, ask some of the professional photographers who had their work hoovered up by this for-profit publication, used to generate traffic for this site, and who received no $ for their efforts. Those are just some of the people who care.

Also, it's legally indefensible to claim the right to another person's work without their acceptance of the terms. Simply putting a notice on your own web site that you plan to use anything and everything that crosses the internet with a specific hashtag attached to it does not constitute a contract between the web site and people offering their images or text via the 'net.

This post is meant to celebrate Pride and those who participated in documenting it this year. If you see your photo here and you wish it to be removed please let us know and we'll remove it. You can email me personally with the removal request at tim [at] blogto [dotcom]

I like how this blog chooses to "celebrate" those that document this fantastic event by ripping them off. If the pictures you used were noteworthy and worth publishing in the first place then stop being such cheap scapes and pay for them. That's how you truly celebrate these photographers and their work, allowing them to make a living and continue coverage of this event through their wonderful images.

Nice work blog to - too bad there's still so many whiners and haters out there. Guess we will just have to push it in their faces harder until they become desensitized. And Instagram users, good luck tracking down who re-posts all your photos that you post publicly! Anyone can take a picture. Get over yourself @shutterjet etc

Did you read the article and understand the ruling? or was it just he headline.
What is the harm if children/young adults anyone of any age of seeing something that is natural like an uncovered human body?
Your fears on nudity are yours and it is unhealthy to be afraid of ones own body. To instill this unfounded fear onto children will lead to no go for the child. And you have the nerve to suggest people are unfit to raise children in a healthy knowledgeable fashion. Shame on you.

Equating nudists to a perv is just plain ignorant. And when someone is ignorant, they limit themselves to what they can only understand. I'm not a nudists as I don't have the confidence or comfort-level for it so kudos for these people who can do this. Because you don't understand why they do this do not judge nor declare someone an offensive label. AND so what if a child sees a naked body. WE WERE BORN NAKED FOR RUPAUL's SAKE!

If you want a Pride parade that is more family friendly and political with a little less nudity (no guarantees that there won't be any as it isn't illegal), I would suggest that you consider the Ottawa Pride parade. I bring my kids there...and my partner and I attend Toronto without the children. This way they learn acceptance and understanding and when they are old enough to ate a Toronto Pride (not old enough due to nudity - my concern is more geared to the amount of people that attend), then I will bring them to Toronto. See...it's simple! Re: the photos...move on...it's pretty clear that BlogTO has the right to use the photos...your beating a dead horse! Have a FANTASTIC day all!!!

This whole picture thing has gotten so out of control that these photographers need to get over themselves. I'm a professional photographer as well, and have specialized mostly in skyline shots, panoramic photos and images of our city from hard-to-access rooftops and (sometimes illegal) means to get to the highest floor. I'm not out to make money or a name for myself because my photos are my passion - I LOVE to share what I see about our city with others. I am HONOURED when people ask if they can use my photo for their blog or (once) used for the cover of a weekly paper. I don't go all psycho-bitch on people for using my 'intellectual property' (what crap - it's a goddamn picture). And no, I don't 'watermark' my photos on flickr or other sites because I'm not greedy and selfish and would love as many people as possible to enjoy our city that I'm assuming we all love. Now, because I do mostly skyline and downtown shots, I rarely include people in my photos. Whether or not that crosses another line - not for this blog but for the photographer (getting the permission of those in the photos)...
I avoid Pride not because of the 'nudity' or whatever else but, since I'm gay too, I absolutely hate the elitist dickhead gay men who are there to show off their $700 sunglasses or brand new whatever, and sneer at anyone who doesn't appear 'good enough' to go to their 'little party'. My problem has never been with straight people who may object to Pride and it's activities, it's always been with the other gay men who have this self-important, 'I'm the highest educated, earn the most money, live in the most expensive condo, and look better than everyone else; therefore I'm worthy of everything and you're not!'...it's a complex thing really, because most gay men are overly independent and elitist and think they're better than everyone else, which, for other gay men who aren't that way, makes seeking out dates and friends miserable when our selection comes from such a small percentage of men. After a while you just stop going to gay events because you know the kinds of guys you're going to see.

I am in total support of gay and lesbian rights and the freedom to be proud and be who you are! We have come such a long way. But for the ones that parade around the way SOME do with whips, chains, bare asses and sporting banana hammocks is in poor taste. This sadly drowns out the positive message that others are working so hard to achieve. This behaviour should not be acceptable in public for ANY cause or at ANY parade. Put some clothes on, be creative designing costumes with class, dress to be respected and you will be treated with respect as with us all! I bet your positive message will be much stronger, clearer and much more accepted!

Denise I am sorry but as I read some of the comments posted on other blogs by people who are upset because nudity is opposed by others and I see such comments as "if you don't like the nudity then stay home" or " Breeders need to stay home and keep their kids home too" I have always been a big supporter of the pride parade and the fight for equality for the gay community. I would think that the gay community would welcome all supporters and especially children after all they are the future voices and the ultimate attitude change is going to from their generation. These comments I am reading now makes me wonder if the support of myself and so many others , is even welcome.